FILE PHOTO: The national flags of Taiwan and Czech Republic are seen during the 18th Session of the Taiwan-Czech Joint Business Council Meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, March 27, 2023. REUTERS
TAIPEI 鈥� Taiwan is part of a democratic alliance and can work with many friendly countries, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said after welcoming a large Czech delegation to the island on Monday, one day after Honduras switched diplomatic allegiance to China.
While the number of countries that retain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan has dwindled to just 13 following the move by Honduras on Sunday, U.S. allies like the Czech Republic have been bolstering support for the democratic island even as they also only officially recognize China.
The roughly 150-person Czech delegation arrived in Taipei on Saturday, led by the speaker of the lower chamber of the Czech parliament, Marketa Pekarova Adamova. China has criticized the visit.
Speaking to reporters after addressing a Taiwan-Czech business forum, Wang said the timing of the Honduras announcement and the Czech delegation鈥檚 arrival were two different things.
鈥淭his visit of the delegation to Taiwan certainly represents that Taiwan is in a democratic alliance,鈥� she said.
鈥淒iplomatically we in fact can have relevant cooperation with lots of countries who are friendly to us, especially on trade and the economy, culture and so on 鈥� these are good areas. We will strengthen substantive relations with a great many democratic countries.鈥�
Pekarova Adamova, who is due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen later on Monday, told the business forum that Taiwan was a crucial investment partner for her country.
鈥淭aiwan is not only an important economic partner but also a friendly and democratic partner and deserves our attention and support.鈥�
Newly elected Czech president Petr Pavel drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing in January after taking a call from Tsai, a clear shift from his predecessor鈥檚 attempts to win Chinese business.
Pekarova Adamova鈥檚 trip to Taiwan follows one by Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil in 2020. He brought around 90 people with him and proclaimed 鈥淚 am Taiwanese鈥� in a speech channelling the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy鈥檚 defiance of communism in Berlin in 1963.